title: Long-term efficacy of electrical pudendal nerve stimulation for urgency-frequency syndrome in women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Electrical pudendal nerve stimulation (EPNS) was developed by combining the advantages of pudendal neuromodulation (PNM) and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) and incorporating the technique of deep insertion of long acupuncture needles. The purpose of this study is to show the long-term efficacy of EPNS in treating urgency-frequency syndrome (UFS) in women.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and six consecutive female UFS patients were enrolled and treated with EPNS. Long acupuncture needles were deeply inserted into four sacral points and electrified to stimulate the pudendal nerves. Evaluation of therapeutic effects was based on a questionnaire (including questions on storage, voiding, and postmicturition symptoms). Patients with ≥50 % posttreatment symptom improvement were followed up for at least 60 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete resolution and ≥50 % improvement rate were 42.5 % and 85.8 %, respectively, in the 106 patients after a mean of 21.2 sessions of EPNS treatment. Of the 91 patients with ≥50 % posttreatment improvement, 62 (29 with complete resolution, 15 with marked improvement, and 18 with moderate improvement) were available for follow-up at 60-126 (mean 99.5; median 98) months after the end of EPNS treatment. Of these 62 patients, 35 maintained the posttreatment effect, 18 changed from better to complete resolution, and seven changed back to <50 % improvement; only four of whom changed to <25 % improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPNS combines the advantages of PNM (better effect) and PTNS (minimally invasive, easily applicable, and well tolerated) in treating UFS. It has a good long-term therapeutic effect on UFS in women.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Section, Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, 650 south Wanping road, Shanghai, 200030, China, wangsiyou1234@163.com.
authors.forename: Siyou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shujing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D060525:Pudendal Nerve; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000628:therapy*